This Week in DPPA: 26 October - 1 November 2019

1 Nov 2019 - 16:41

25 October - 1 November 2019

This Week in DPPAis a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.

DPPA Chief in the Caucasus

Continues visit in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia
Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo continued her visit to the South Caucasus this week. On 26 October, Ms. DiCarlo met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku, and reaffirmed the UN’s full support for ongoing peace efforts on Nagorno-Karabakh led by OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. They also discussed the important role of women, youth and civil society in contributing to peace and development.

In Tbilisi, Georgia, on 28 October Ms. DiCarlo met President Salome Zourabichvili, and reaffirmed the UN’s strong commitment to assisting the participants in revitalizing the Geneva International Discussions, the process that addresses the consequences of the conflict in Georgia in 2008. She also discussed with representatives from civil society and internally displaced persons progress in constitutional and electoral reforms and the important role of NGO’s and women in advancing peace through dialogue.

Continuing to Yerevan, Armenia, the Under-Secretary-General addressed the UN “Think Equal Forum on Women Empowerment” on 29 October, highlighting alongside Armenian women leaders the essential role of women in peace and security. She also met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and again emphasized the UN’s full support for the ongoing peace efforts led by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
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Security Council

‘Multi-generational tragedy’ in Israel and Palestine demands political will for two-state solution, says Mladenov
Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council on the situation in Israel and Palestine on 28 October. “The Occupation continues, and no progress has been made in realizing a negotiated two-state solution,” Mr. Mladenov told the Council in his quarterly update. “It is a multi-generational tragedy for the peoples of this land.”Read his full remarks here

WPS agenda one of the top priorities of the UN, Secretary-General reaffirms
During a Security Council open debate on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) on 29 October, Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed that the WPS agenda is clearly one of the top priorities of the UN as a whole. UN departments are implementing a new, stronger policy on women, peace and security, Mr. Guterres noted, while special political missions and envoys have been instructed to report regularly on their efforts to promote women’s “direct participation” throughout all stages of peace processes.Read his full remarks here

UN–African Union collaboration more ‘systematic and predictable’
The UN’s cooperation with the African Union to tackle peace and security issues in the continent “is becoming more systematic and predictable,” Hanna Tetteh, Special Representative and Head of UNOAU told the Security Council on 30 October.Watch the Council briefing here

Situation in Burundi remains tense, says outgoing Special Envoy
During a Security Council briefing on the situation in Burundi on 30 October, Special Envoy Michel Kafando said the situation in the country remained tense, with a rise in political intolerance and violations of civil and political liberties. He expressed the hope that the 2020 electoral process would be transparent, because “badly organized and contested elections are always a source of conflict.” Mr. Kafando also announced his resignation as Special Envoy for Burundi and thanked Council members for their support during his two-and-a-half­-year tenure.Watch the Council briefing here

New York

Peacebuilding Commission briefed on The Gambia
The Peacebuilding Commission met in New York on 28 October at the request of the Government of The Gambia. The Government updated the Commission on security sector reform and the transitional justice processes in the country, as well as the work of the Constitutional Review Commission. The meeting served as a platform for the Gambian Government to seek continued support for its peacebuilding priorities from the UN and the international community. Abubacarr M. Tambadou, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia, participated in the meeting.
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Colombia

Former FARC combatants present a collection of hiking clothes
With the idea of making a clothing line that represents their values, history and contribution to peace and reconciliation, 18 former combatants who work in a tailoring project in the territorial areas for training and reintegration of Pondores, La Guajira, and Tierra Grata, in Cesar department, created a sport/outdoors collections, launched in the city of Valledupar on 30 October. The former combatants were trained in tailoring and fashion by seven experts from La Factoría company. This project is part of the program to strengthen productive initiatives of ex-FARC combatants, which is led by the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia with resources from DPPA.
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More than 30 artists painted for reconciliation and peacebuilding
The United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia is backing the ‘Agua Bonita Covered in Colors for Peace and Reconciliation’ festival, being held from 30 October to 3 November. More than 30 artists painted urban art at the houses of former combatants in the reintegration area of Agua Bonita, Caquetá. Former combatants, their families, and local communities will enjoy activities including academic forums about art, peacebuilding, climate change, communications and women's rights.
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Afghanistan

Protection of children’s rights in the spotlight at Kunduz symposium
Participants at a UN-backed seminar on human rights, held at Kunduz University on 31 October, underscored the crucial need to strengthen measures to protect children in Afghanistan’s armed conflict. Those attending the seminar, which was facilitated by UNAMA’s Kunduz regional office, discussed international, national and Islamic principles related to protecting children during armed conflict, with a specific focus on Afghanistan.Read the full story here

Central Asia

Youth from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan meet through UNRCCA initiative
The third cross-border workshop of the UNRCCA Preventive Diplomacy Academy was held in Turkmenabad, Turkmenistan from 29 to 31 October. Young people from the Lebap Province of Turkmenistan and neighboring Bukhara Province of Uzbekistan participated in the workshop, organized by UNRCCA and the Youth Union of Turkmenistan. In her opening remarks, Special Representative Natalia Gherman highlighted the importance of investing in young people, particularly in border areas. Training in the tools of preventive diplomacy can help youth even in their daily lives, she emphasized.Read the full story here

Iraq

Special Representative meets protesters at Tahrir Square
In an effort to promote dialogue between protestors and the Iraqi Government, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative and Head of UNAMI, visited Tahrir Square in Baghdad on 30 October to engage with demonstrators. Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert called for a national dialogue to identify prompt, meaningful responses to stop the violence and to unite against the perils of division and inaction. Standing together, Iraqis can find the common ground needed to shape a better future for all, she said.
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Lebanon

Special Coordinator calls for government that meets aspiration of the Lebanese people
Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis has been holding meetings with Lebanese Government and political leaders since the start of protests almost two weeks ago, stressing the importance of listening to and delivering on the legitimate demands of demonstrators. Mr. Kubis, together with Deputy Special Coordinator Philippe Lazzarini have also been meeting with representatives of civil society and members of the international community. Following the Prime Minister’s resignation on 29 October, Mr. Kubis urged the authorities “to preserve the stability of the state and its institutions and to ensure their smooth functioning.” The Special Coordinator urged the legitimate security forces to maintain law, order, and security, take action against those that instigate violence, regardless of their party affiliation, and protect demonstrating civilians, who need to maintain the peaceful character of their protests. He reminded the political parties that they bear the full responsibility for the behaviour and action of their supporters and for controlling them, especially if they provoke clashes with peaceful protesters or security forces.
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Syria

Launch of the Syrian Constitutional Committee
The 150 members of the Syrian Constitutional Committee came together for the first time in Geneva, Switzerland, on 30 October. Representatives from the Syrian Government and the opposition will now work together to draft a new foundational text for war-torn Syria.
In his opening remarks, Special Envoy Geir O. Pedersen said that: "The future constitution belongs to Syrians, to the Syrian people and them alone,” adding: “Today could become the beginning of something new, something meaningful for Syria and for Syrians everywhere”.Read more in UN News

Somalia

Special Representative visits Puntland
James Swan, Special Representative and Head of UNSOM, visited Garowe in Puntland state on 27 October. He met with Said Deni, President of Puntland, and discussed a range of local issues related to economic development, democratic reform, and security. “We congratulated Puntland’s leaders for the recent successful investment conference and the start of the Ethiopian Airlines flight over the summer. Both offer positive signals of economic revival in Puntland. We also learned about preparations for the new Puntland Development Plan and we look forward to collaborating on that initiative,” the Special Representative told the media after the meeting.Read the full statement on UNSOM’s website

Somalia recommit to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, announced the launch of a USD $2 million project on her visit to the southwestern city of Baidoa on 30 October.
The project, funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund, will support the prevention of child recruitment and reintegration of children formerly associated with armed forces and groups. Following a meeting with the South West State’s President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, Ms. Gamba stressed the commitment of the UN and international partners to preventing all forms of violations against children.Read more on UNSOM’s website